By Debby Haralson

Chief Administrative Officer

Question: Do men ever volunteer at The WellHouse?

Answer: Of course they do!

On a typical day you’ll see men volunteering in any number of ways. They tend to the landscape, mow, mulch, and weed-eat through the summer. They paint and repair what we have chipped and broken. They assemble, move, and reassemble a lot of our furniture. They pressure wash, weatherize, waterproof, install, and secure all the areas needed to provide a safe home for the women and girls of The WellHouse. Some even barbecue occasionally!

Our male volunteers are critical to the work of restoration and are greatly appreciated. However, there is one person we are spotlighting today because he has taken on an entire fleet of work. Lloyd Wright found The WellHouse by way of one of our supportive local churches, Crosspoint Baptist. He was quick to volunteer in some much-needed areas, not the least of which is our bi-weekly grocery order.

Question: How many bags of groceries does it take to provide two-week’s worth of food for 28 residents and two full-time Home Coordinators?

Answer: More than you think.

Every other week, Lloyd Wright makes a trip to Sam’s Club, fills his truck-bed to the very top with our order of bread, eggs, cereal, fruit, vegetables, snacks, and just a few treats. When he somehow drives all of this back to our St. Clair County campus, he is a very welcome sight. HIs service to The WellHouse is certainly worthy of thanks, but there is much more to appreciate in Lloyd Wright.

As you may know, The WellHouse has several automobiles dedicated to the care of our residents. We use these cars and vans to pick up ladies in need of rescue, take current residents to appointments, and travel together for special events. Lloyd Wright has taken on the entire fleet of WellHouse automobiles. Whenever something doesn’t feel, sound, or drive exactly right, we know that we can call him, and we do so quite often. Lloyd comes to The WellHouse, takes the auto to the mechanic, and manages the repairs to completion. What a gift this is!

As The WellHouse has experienced substantial growth over the past few years, Lloyd’s work has become more and more meaningful. When we asked Lloyd how it felt to volunteer at The WellHouse he replied, “I’ve never thought of myself as a volunteer. I believe we are all doing ministry together.”

Question: What does it mean for women and girls who have experienced heartbreak and repeated betrayal to see Lloyd consistently caring for their needs, month after month?

Answer: It means hope.

To all the men who serve at The WellHouse , modeling compassion, purity, and dependability in critical, tangible ways, it has truly been a pleasure doing ministry with you. Thank you for your service.

Difference Makers - Spring 2022